Meet the Contenders: 2024 Arkansas Derby
Timberlake (Photo by Coady Photography)
Meet the horses running in the 2024 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents opportunity to perform well. Be sure to follow these contenders by adding them to your Stable Alerts.
Oaklawn Park - Coady Photography
#1 Will Take It *
Pro: Showed improved early foot last time and just missed in stretch duel.
Con: First two tries were poor, and he enters still a maiden.
Timberlake wins the Rebel (G2) (Photo by Coady Photography)
#2 Timberlake *****
Pro: Champagne (G1) and Rebel (G2) winner one of the classiest colts in the field.
Con: Raced a bit erratically in stretch of the Rebel; lack of focus a potential issue.
Dimatic wins at Oaklawn (Photo by Coady Photography)
#3 Dimatic **
Pro: One of three in here for Steve Asmussen, who has won this race four times.
Con: Blinkers didn’t help much in Rebel, where he was well-beaten fifth.
Time for Truth (Photo by Coady Photography)
#4 Time for Truth ***
Pro: Stakes-placed colt handled two turns well winning allowance last time.
Con: Hasn’t faced a field of this quality yet and stamina will be tested.
Liberal Arts. (Photo by Coady Photography)
#5 Liberal Arts ***
Pro: Distant third in Southwest (G3) and should improve second off the layoff.
Con: Could use some pace and there isn’t a ton of it here on paper.
Informed Patriot (Photo by Coady Photography)
#6 Informed Patriot **
Pro: Ran well here when third to Catching Freedom in Smarty Jones S. two back.
Con: Better than poor try in Sunland Derby suggests, but likely not enough to upset.
Muth ranks as the morning line favorite for the Preakness (Photo by Benoit Photo)
#7 Muth *****
Pro: Never worse than second in five starts and among the best of his generation at two.
Con: Enters off layoff of nearly three months and has never run outside SoCal base.
Just Steel (inside) edging Be You in a Saratoga maiden special weight (Photo by Coglianese Photos/Susie Raisher)
#8 Just Steel **
Pro: Placed in first two local Derby preps before throwing a dud in the Rebel.
Con: Proven to be a cut or two below the best three-year-olds on the grounds.
Mystik Dan winning the Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn Park (Photo by Coady Photography/Kurtis Coady)
#9 Mystik Dan ****
Pro: Romping winner of the Southwest would be the horse to beat if he repeats that effort.
Con: Right trip and muddy strip flattered that big run; must prove he can do it over fast track.
Imperial Gun (Photo by Coady Photography)
# 10 Imperial Gun **
Pro: Son of Gun Runner won maiden well two back; remains with upside.
Con: Interim allowance fourth suggests he needs a big step forward to contend here.
